"Yep.Already paid for a week. They deliver after lunch and after the dinner rush.Which works out good since we don't open until ten and the second crew comes inat five."
"You'rebrilliant."
"Andbecause we are repeat customers, they're not charging us even half of what theyshould be. Just wanted to make sure this was okay with you. We're workingeverybody to the bone–"
Isilenced him with a kiss. "This isn't just my store. Not anymore. It hasn'tbeen since the day you started working. If youthink it's a great idea, I think it's fucking genius. You never need to ask meabout shit like this."
"CanI ask you for another one of them kisses?"
"Tellyou what, why don't you," I paused and put my lips next to his ear andwhispered the rest. "Stop by the house and I'll kiss you where it really counts." I pulled away andran my hand over the front of his jeans.
"Ooh.A bonus."
"No.A bone me." I gave him a saucy smile and squeezed, nearly groaning as heswelled under my hand.
"I'llsee you tonight. Can I use your shower?"
"Sincethat's where I was planning on giving you those kisses, absolutely."
Adizzy, dreamy grin spread across his face and Dar snickered behind us. "CanI get some of those, too?"
"Yougonna be home tonight?"
"Well,I wasn't, but maybe I can talk Shea into having a sleepover at the boss' house."
"Don't.I may come spend the night with you guys tomorrow."
Darand Jason's eyes narrowed. "Is everything okay, Master?"
"Yes.Just picked up another stray."
Jasontilted his head and Dar scrunched his eyes in worry. "Stray?"
"Rememberthe dark elven prince?"
"Elleslyn?"
"Yeah.Long story, but he's kind of in the same boat as Jaeren. Sworn to serve me."I sighed heavily and almost dropped to the floor. Anger, doubt, and frustrationmaking my head hurt. I didn't need another servant, and I sure as hell didn't want one. "All right. I'm supposedto be on an ice cream run, not ruining everybody's mood with my problems. Gonnacheck on the girls and go grab Yuki from the diner." Giving them each akiss on the lips, I left them standing there staring at me in shock.
Imade it about three feet from the backroom door when the shakily asked questionstopped me in my tracks. "Excuse me, Miss? Do you have any books onhydroponics?"
Ialmost laughed at the elderly lady browsing the gardening section. "I'mnot sure, but you're in the right section if we do." The door behind meswung open and Jason stepped out. "But the guy to ask just walked throughthat door." I waited until he got a little closer. "Hey, Jay. Bookson hydroponics?"
"Yep.Several of them. Here," he answered and bent down to find them. I caressedhis shoulder and gave the old lady checking out his ass a smile.
Leavingthem, I headed for the coffee shop. It was running like a well-oiled machine.Josie was running the register and Candace was conducting a symphony of youngervamps manning the espresso machines, blenders, and coffee makers. The three ofthem were flipping cups, ducking under each other, and not spilling a drop. Thepeople in line were applauding their barristacrobatics and stuffing tips intheir jars. When an order was filled, it was handed off to Candace who got itto the appropriate customer. It was almost mesmerizing to watch.
Icouldn't take my eyes off them as I pushed my way through the line and walkedaround the side of the counter, slipping up behind my sister. "Holy shit,"I said behind her back in awe.
"Brilliant,huh?"
"Hiringvampires? Fuck yeah."
"Youcan thank your little princess. She hooked us up."
"Shedid?"
"Janay,cover for me for a minute?"
"Surething, Miss Josie." One of the vamps broke from the pack and slippedbehind the register. The other two vampires sped up a little to cover themissing person and keep the production going. They weren't a well-oiledmachine, they were a fucking Tesla Model S.
Josiemotioned for the back room, letting me lead the way through the swinging door.There was another vampire back there grabbing a snack. "Hey, Miss Josie."
"Karl."
"Needsome privacy?" He motioned to the bag of blood in his hand.
"Please.Give 'em a hand for a minute."
"Surething, Boss." He grinned at her, fangs on display as he bowed almostreverently to me. I caught a whiff of fear coming from him and I shuddered inecstasy.
"Youokay?" My shiver didn't go unnoticed by Josie.
"Yep.Peachy. Nice to meet you, Karl."
Heblushed and shot through the door, leaving the two of us alone. I rolled myhead over my shoulders and felt my neck crack. The stock room was quiet. Thefirst actual silence I'd had all day. I almost didn't want to start talking.
Toobad that wasn't a trait of my sister. "Yeah, it was Yuki's idea hiring thevamp kids."
"Brilliant.What about paperwork? Some of those kids have been around for ninety-somethingyears. Don't you need social security numbers and shit?"
Josieblushed.
"What?"
"Theyhave them."
"How?"
"Youcan thank your buddy, the mayor."
"Sherry?"
Josiegiggled and nodded. "Remember Georgie Blake?"
"Yourseventh-grade crush?"
Josienodded. "He moved to town and since he worked at the records department inAshville… Sherry gave him a job at city hall. He's been working diligentlymagicking birth records and helping the kids in town apply for social securitycards. A whole flock of 'em ranging in human ages from sixteen to nineteen."
Ileaned against the wire shelving behind me. "Holy shit." I blinked atthe implications.
"Yep.Cedar Falls is turning into Ashville."
Iblew out a breath of appreciation. Things were moving along nicely, much fasterthan I'd expected. Now if we could just stop some of the townsfolk fromrounding us up, tying us to stakes, and burning us, things would be great. Atleast we didn't have to worry about the three major ones anymore. Hard to stagea witch hunt when you'd been reduced to zombie kibble. I felt bad. Not fortheir deaths. They were almost zealot level in their hatred of witches, butbecause I'd inadvertently caused their demise. The zombies I'd accidentallycreated had eaten all three of them to protect me. Personally, I would havefelt much better turning them into horny toads.
"Yousure you're okay?" My sister was staring at me intently.
"Yes.You can stop asking now." I blew her a kiss for her concern.
"Youjust seem…"
"Preoccupied?"
"Yep."
"Lotof shit happening. Store, mother quit the coven,
